Advocacy and Civic Engagement

NNAAC’s Advocacy & Civic Engagement (ACE) program utilizes the collective power of NNAAC members to address issues of concern on the national level. We place a firm emphasis on listening to and assessing the grassroots community needs and then addressing those needs through policy forums, meetings with nationally elected and administrative officials, collaborations with allied organizations. Learn more about NNAAC's Advocacy & Civic Engagement efforts:

NNAAC also works to increase member capacity to be advocates in their own communities. This is done through one-on-one technical assistance, trainings, webinars, and materials, such as policy papers, translated materials for the community, and educational materials.

PRIORITY ISSUES

Through these tactics, NNAAC has become one of the leading national organizations advocating on issues of concern to the Arab American community. We have identified three main priorities:

ARAB AMERICAN ADVOCACY WEEK

Each spring, Arab Americans from across the country gather in Washington D.C. to discuss domestic policy issues facing their community. Hosted by NNAAC, grassroots and community based Arab American organizations come together to collectively voice their concerns over a three-day series of activities and meetings with elected officials, representatives from federal agencies, White House officials and ally organizations.

GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV)

Every election season, NNAAC is involved in nonpartisan Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts through a series of initiatives to increase Arab American voter registration and engagement. This long-term civic engagement program encourages Arab Americans to participate more in their communities, and provides resources and trainings to increase the capacity of NNAAC member organizations to support their own GOTV efforts locally.

THE CAMPAIGN TO TAKE ON HATE

In 2014, NNAAC launched The Campaign to TAKE ON HATE, a multi-year, grassroots campaign to challenge this country’s growing prejudice and persistent misconception of Arab and Muslim Americans, including refugees of Arab and Muslim descent.

TAKE ON HATE aims to achieve meaningful social change not only through public education, media and coalition building, but also by providing a platform for Arab Americans to speak up and inspire real policy change that challenges institutional discrimination and protects the rights of our communities.

The campaign will launch in four cities in its first year – Detroit (Dearborn), Chicago, New York and San Francisco – with the aid of strategic partnerships, earned and paid media, grassroots organizing and meetings with policymakers. As TAKE ON HATE continues to roll out, it will mobilize support from within and outside Arab American communities to address the injustices, bias and hate we face daily – whether at work, home or play.